Introduction

Despite its lukewarm reception, GreedFall by developer Spiders and published by Nacon told the world one thing: there was more they wanted to give. The original game released in 2019 found a passionate fan base, and clearly the developers wanted to return that love to those players.

Enter 2026 and a new entry in the series with GreedFall: The Dying World. Personally, I didn’t get very far in the original GreedFall, but I appreciated its systems that reminded me of older RPG classics like Dragon Age: Origins and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Seeing this new title positioned as a prequel felt like a great opportunity to jump into the world.

The question now is whether GreedFall: The Dying World learned from the original game or if it simply delivers more of the same. Let’s find out in our review of GreedFall: The Dying World on PS5. Big thanks to Spiders and Nacon for the review code.

Gameplay

It’s hard not to compare GreedFall: The Dying World to RPG classics like KOTOR and Dragon Age: Origins. Almost every discussion about the game brings those titles up, and once you play it, the inspiration becomes clear.

Combat can be approached in two ways. The first is traditional action RPG combat where you directly control your character, attacking enemies with melee weapons or ranged attacks.

The second option is the tactical system. Players can pause the action and assign commands to each party member individually. You might send a warrior forward to draw enemy attention while a ranged companion attacks from afar, or instruct a support character to remain behind the group and focus on healing.

This tactical layer gives GreedFall: The Dying World a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RPG party management systems.

Personally, I played the game mostly in real-time combat with my party operating in a more autonomous mode. While the AI occasionally made questionable decisions—such as an archer charging directly into a group of enemies—it was generally capable of holding its own as long as the party was properly leveled and equipped.

Outside of combat, however, the game’s biggest weakness begins to show: repetition. Much like other RPGs, you spend time exploring environments, talking with NPCs, completing quests, and collecting loot. While these activities occasionally led to useful discoveries, they rarely felt exciting.

The leveling system initially seems robust. Your character can develop a wide range of abilities and talents. Want to craft stronger gear? Invest in craftsmanship. Prefer resolving conflicts through conversation? Focus on diplomacy.

Unfortunately, many of these systems rarely lead to major narrative consequences. Diplomacy might avoid a fight, but it rarely changes the broader direction of the story. While customization exists, it often feels more superficial than meaningful.

Graphics

While GreedFall: The Dying World may not compete visually with some of the biggest RPGs on the market, it still looks quite good and represents a clear improvement over the original game.

Larger cities and villages feel vibrant and detailed, while some environments showcase beautiful lighting and atmospheric design. Smaller areas and dungeons, however, can feel somewhat static and repetitive.

Overall, the visuals may not reach the heights of the genre’s biggest titles, but the work from Spiders still deserves recognition for delivering a solid fantasy world.

Sound

Much like several other aspects of the game, the audio design in GreedFall: The Dying World is serviceable but rarely exceptional.

The soundtrack contains a few standout pieces—especially the main menu theme—but most tracks never quite demand your full attention. The voice acting also falls into a mixed category. While there are multiple voice options for your main character, many NPC performances remain fairly average.

None of the audio elements detract from the experience, but they rarely elevate it either.

Story

GreedFall: The Dying World serves as a prequel set in the world of Gacane. Players take on the role of a new sage in training who has been labeled “Rootless” by their village.

At first, your journey revolves around proving your worth to the community. However, tensions quickly rise when a newly discovered resource begins poisoning the surrounding population. Conflict emerges between the villagers and the Renaigsa, also known as foreigners.

Before long, your peaceful life comes to an abrupt end when you and your companions are taken from your home and thrust into a much larger world filled with political conflict and danger.

One aspect I truly appreciated was the game’s historical inspiration. The fusion of fantasy elements with influences from 17th-century European history creates a unique setting. Themes such as colonial conflict and exploitation appear throughout the story, but the presence of magic and supernatural forces keeps the narrative firmly rooted in fantasy.

While the overall plot may not reach the heights of other major RPGs, it remains engaging enough to keep players interested—especially those already invested in the GreedFall universe.

Overall Impression

I have to give Spiders credit for staying true to what worked in the original GreedFall. The developers clearly didn’t want to overhaul the formula completely and risk alienating fans.

However, that decision also limits how much the sequel evolves. While the improvements are noticeable, the core experience still feels very similar to the first game.

Players who enjoyed the original GreedFall will likely appreciate the familiar systems and storytelling style. But for those hoping for a bold evolution of the formula, GreedFall: The Dying World may feel like a missed opportunity.

The gameplay repetition becomes noticeable fairly quickly, and despite its depth, the systems rarely reach their full potential.

Conclusion

GreedFall: The Dying World lives by the old saying: “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” While the game introduces some improvements and expands the setting with new stories, the overall experience remains very similar to the original.

If you had mixed feelings about the first game—or didn’t enjoy it—this prequel probably won’t change your mind. However, fans of the original or players simply looking for a classic-style RPG will likely find plenty to enjoy here.

For those players, GreedFall: The Dying World offers a nostalgic RPG experience that scratches that old-school itch.

—Aaron